10/10/2026
From Kono to New York City 🇺🇸 every step has a purpose. 🌍🇸🇱
Thank you, Mama Dusu, for your prayers. I wonder what life would have been like without you. ❤️🙏🏽
Another global nomination, far from home but we are confident we can bring this award home, like always.🇸🇱
🇸🇱 SHEKU FORYOH
Sierra Leone
Youth leadership is not simply about representing a generation; it is about creating opportunities for young people to participate, develop their potential and contribute meaningfully to society.
Sheku Foryoh is a Sierra Leonean youth advocate and civic leader whose work focuses on youth empowerment, child protection, leadership development and civic participation.
In 2015, he founded the Youth and Children’s Advocacy Panel (YACAP), an initiative dedicated to supporting young people through advocacy, mentorship, educational opportunities and leadership development. Through its programmes, YACAP has worked to encourage young Sierra Leoneans to understand their rights, strengthen their skills and become active contributors to their communities.
One of the organisation’s notable initiatives is the National Youth Leadership Summit, which brings young people together to discuss challenges affecting their generation and develop recommendations for addressing them. At the 2019 summit, participants from across Sierra Leone engaged in discussions on unemployment, youth marginalisation, education, entrepreneurship, technology and innovation. Their deliberations included a parliamentary-style debate and the presentation of recommendations to the Ministry of Youth Affairs.
Foryoh’s work also reflects an interest in connecting young people with civic institutions and decision-makers, ensuring that youth participation extends beyond conversations to include practical engagement in national development.
His involvement in youth advocacy and development initiatives has extended to digital engagement, skills development and opportunities for young people to build leadership capacity.
At the WAFRIC Awards 2026, Sheku Foryoh is nominated for Youth Leader of the Year, recognising his commitment to youth advocacy, leadership development and creating platforms through which young people can contribute to the future of their country.
His journey highlights the importance of investing in young people not merely as future leaders, but as active participants in shaping society today.
